DART offers new passes, transfer upgrades

Dallas Area Rapid Transit said Wednesday it is offering a "new fare system" to facilitate bus-to-rail transfers, and also offering a new discount midday pass, beginning Dec. 3. DART says the change is :"designed to encourage ridership during the parts of the day when DART has additional capacity."

The changes come amid local angst over ridership declines on some of DART's light rail lines, reported by some sources as approaching eight-year lows. The new system takes effect with DART's opening of the second section of its Orange Line, extending service from Las Colinas, Tex., to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and DART's Blue Line extension from Garland to Rowlett, Tex.

DART said the changes "follow a board vote that was preceded by a public hearing and 18 community meetings on the proposed changes. No changes have been made to the existing reduced fare structure, and the price of a paratransit fare remains at $3.

A two-hour pass for $2.50 replaces the current single-ride ticket that costs $1.75. DART customers may use the pass to ride any DART bus or rail service, or the Trinity Railway Express between Union and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations, during a two-hour period. The new midday pass is good between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

DART has posted the new information, including a table of the new fares, on a separate webpage, www.DART.org/2012FareChange.